Peter Schiff Was Right 2006 – 2007

He spoke but no one listened. He debated but no one took him seriously. Why would this guy want to continue to go the path that is least walked. Why would be put his business ventures at stake? The answers seems to rest in that fact that he knew the truth about the upcoming crisis even if that meant being humiliated and unpopular. Who is this man? Funny how the previous lines could represent a number of people all throughout history. But my illustrating is referring to Peter Schiff. Who is Mr. Schiff? He is an “American stock broker, economist, author, financial news commentator, video blogger, the president of Euro Pacific Capital and a 2010 candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democratic Senator Chris Dodd” (wikipedia: Peter David Schiff). What makes him so interesting is that he was one of the few economists in the world to openly tell the world about a devastating economic crisis that was soon to come.

So why didn’t anyone want to listen to him? He wasn’t stating what people want to hear. Not only that but there are many groups (government, media, banking, etc) that have an invested interest in the general citizens continued trust the US financial system. Any great hysteria could topple over the financial system that we currently hold in this county. Scary? Without God–yes. But what is scarier is that there is a God quickly coming and we are arguing over if He even exists. The wicked nature of humanity is “dress[ing] the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace” Jeremiah 8:11.

Here is a video to watch so that you can get a picture of just what it means to stand up for the truth. Now please do likewise.

God Bless!

Matt

Young Lady’s Soul

Wow, it is really early in the morning and God just woke me up from a dream. I very rarely dream, and just the same, it is rare to wake up remembering the dream in great detail and feeling impressed to blog about it. I hope that someone is blessed by the truth that I realize that that the Lord is trying to reiterate in my life.

Lo Min Wei's portrait "Meditation"

It went something like this:

I seemed to be part of a church inside of a mall, because it looked different than the standard churches that I usually go to. There are many people that I don’t know surrounding me. One day a young lady (who resembles someone I know) shows up interested in knowing more about the scriptures. We take her to different activities put on by the church. After participating in everything that the church has to offer she realizes that she would join the congregation.

A day seems to have passed by and we are all in the church again, but this time socializing. My mother is talking to a group about a woman at her job who is chronically depressed and doesn’t talk much, when all of a sudden the woman walks into the church and looks at the crowd rather timidly. After a second, the woman lifts her head with calm determination. She introduces herself and then claims that she has been looking for the young lady that had recently joined our church. Everyone is confused and starts asking if she has the right person. She emphasizes that she does and pulls out a notepad that shows a whole bunch of names, some crossed out and some not. Skipping over the people that have the same name as the young lady, she finds the girls name along with her last name on the notebook.

The next scene I find myself in an auditorium connected to a large fellowship hall where the majority of the church has congregated to hear what this lady has to say. The room is designed like a mini amphitheater where the seating rises from the bottom going up. Everyone is able to see the woman while she talks. As she is talking, she shows us an elaborate slide show presentation on a projector screen to the far right wall. Using the screen, she walks back and forth talking about God in an eloquent and convincing way, while focusing on the young lady who is listens intently. However, I quickly realize that what she is saying isn’t of the Word of God. But she is somehow such a good speaker that the church members and the young lady alike are all nodding their heads in agreement. All of a sudden, a guy gets up and walks to the fellowship meal line in the other room to prepare a plate.

The coworker is still talking. As she walks back and forth, a friend and I look at each other and bow our heads to pray. We realize that we can’t let our new friend be swept away. So as we pray, I notice that people all around me are starting to realize that the message isn’t true and start to become obviously uncomfortable. But no one stands up to the woman. My friend and I continue to pray until a church member up in the front stands up and confronts the woman using only Bible quotes from memory. The woman tries to refute everything said but can’t. As the church member speaks truth after truth, the woman has less and less to say until finally she gets agitated and storms out. With the obvious sign of victory, the young lady gives a sigh of relief and the church members give a loud victorious cheer! The guy that went to get food, comes back in without his glasses and looks around in confusion about what happens. He asks a dumb question that everyone laughs to then I woke up.

I am under the impression that everything that was witnessed was critical for the saving of the young lady.  And that the only way to counteract error is through prayer and dependence on what the great reformer Martin Luther said, “Sola scriptura (by scripture alone).”

I believe that is it important to note that our churches don’t always standup—as a body—for the truth, sometimes it is one person. Also, there are people–like the hungry man–who aren’t interested in the saving of souls or the search of Truth. They would rather indulge in trivial things. Also, like I mentioned in the beginning, maybe someone reading this is going through a similar scenario, or maybe some of you are be challenged in the faith that you have claimed to be true. Back it up with the Bible and prayer and God has promised in His word to lead you home.

Good day.

Reaction to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour “My Mother’s Daughter”

You can watch the video on CNN — Please Click Here

The truth seekers across the globe are coming to a point where they can’t stand any religion or ideology that is nominal or lukewarm. If you are a Buddhist act like Buddha, Islamic, the way Mohammad would, and if Christian, the way of Christ—just be real! Then and only then will the world see the differences and find the right way (which is Christ). Secular society has taught everyone to place their lives into their own hands and enjoy the pleasures of this world. The loss? Everything eternal.

The reason for having you watch the short film is to show you that in the process of searching for truth one must see that this creed has indeed changed your life. This woman found that in Islam. Her mother is appalled but can’t give any foundational reasoning in the Bible or of the credibility of Christ except traditions and colleagues disapproval. The daughter on the other hand can. She has a better health message (she stopped smoking, eating pork, and drinking), answers to social questions (rights of women), and spiritual connection. Why should she turn back then?

The world has placed all the religions, ideologies, and superstitions in a storefront for any passersby to see. There are the mannequins posing the latest fashions and ideas of each religious brand. Each promises something enticing to attract a searcher into the store. Many are already in the store, trying on different clothes; reading different books; or socializing with different people. However many leave overwhelmed by the mass selection on display. “Where is the owner of the store?” they ask while leaving. Where is the organization? Why are there so many types? Where is the one that I need? With no answer, they leave in frustration the same way they came—empty-handed.

Tell me; are you the same as everyone else—religiously speaking? We say that the Lord (the owner!) is coming back soon but we are not willing to lead the searcher to the right place, to prepare them for the soon coming of their savior. If you aren’t working as a store clerk, don’t be mad when someone picks something different than what you know to be best. Actually, please don’t fuss at all until you are ready to be like Moses when “he chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.” (Hebrews 11:25)

Amen.

Faith Like Potatoes

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” (2 Chr 7:13-15 NIV)

On Friday (Jan 22nd), I was talking to a friend about a movie that would be greatly inspirational when praying for how to witness to the massive secular campus that we are on. The movie, ‘Faith Like Potatoes,’ was a movie that my mother had recommended to me about a year ago. Her excitement towards the movie was peculiar and intriguing at the time. I couldn’t understand what all the fuss over a Christian movie was all about. So I watched it with her and caught her vibe.

Now I am the excited one sharing how the Lord had spoke to me through the movie. My friend shocked me when she interrupted and said, “Why don’t we watch it Saturday night.” Twenty-four hours? Hmmm, that is a really short time to figure out a place, let alone find the movie. Some how, I said, “OK!”

We followed up after bible study that night and I felt impressed to invite everyone who was at the study to the movie night. Not one to watch much movies, I really was more interested in having God work versus starting a trend. The excitement grew and we had a whole bunch of questions of where and when. I looked at my friend and we quickly fumbled to give them the time 8:30 and my place as the location. I looked at roommate, who had also came to the study, and he gave the OK.

I knew that this whole night would be complete faith in the Mighty God of the universe. I called my friend who was gladly lent me her DVD player but I would have to get the DVD after Sabbath. As Sabbath (Saturday) was quickly ending, I gave a call to fellow mastermind, Sarah*, to see if we were still on for the movie night. The phone was answered some just before the answer machine.

“Hello?”
“Hey! Are we up for tonight? I am ready for tonight?”
“Well… I am not sure if I am coming or not.”

That had my mind spinning! Really?! I didn’t want all this pressure on me. But as we spoke, I realized that she had a lot on her mind that was bogging her down. Roughly two hours later, God had intervened and she was willing to come.

People had started calling. They wanted to know my address and if everything was on. I went on faith and told them yes, though I still didn’t have the movie! The time that was spent with my friend had been critical, earthly speaking, towards getting everything ready. But she was more important and God knew that. So I prayed with another friend that tonight God would work everything out and told her to come on faith.

After getting off the phone, I called Blockbuster. They had the movie online but not in the store. Eh!! I decided to go and see for myself, so my roommate drove me over there. We walked around, and still didn’t find the movie. It was now 8:30 and we weren’t even home. The dishes were dirty and people would be coming any moment. I knew that I needed to pray, so I said a small prayer. I called my friends and asked them to bring their computer, hopefully we would be able to link it to my TV and stream the movie from the Internet. I went and bought the link cable.

My phone rang and my friends were asking me which apartment building should they go to. They were here already?! We quickly drove back and met them as they pulled into a parking spot. My other friend (who I had prayed with earlier) was nowhere to be found. I was curious as to where she was.

But we went in. I still didn’t have the movie. After checking my friend’s laptop, I realized that the cable was incompatible, so we would have to use the laptop monitor instead of the TV. As everyone got the food ready as I fiddled with the computer and my roommate’s speakers so that they would work. I went and found out that Amazon allows you to buy movies on demand and thus you can stream it at will. I was excited! Finally!

Everything was set, and I get a phone call. It is my friend who had gone missing. She stated that a friend had called and it had been an urgent matter so she had been in our parking lot for the past hour talking. She had prayed that we wouldn’t start without her. When she walked in we were about to start. Amen! God is greater than are wildest imagination. Period.

The movie was amazing, though there some moments when the Internet buffered and we prayed and God intervened. Is there a moment in your life that you have been told to go on faith, even when everything hasn’t come together? Do you have enough faith to move forward? My prayer is that your faith will be unfaltering because God is waiting, to hear your prayers and have you humbled so that you can come closer to Him. Amen!

*Person’s name has been changed for privacy

P.S. – “Faith Like Potatoes” is the same theme, watch it and be blessed!!!!!

Jon and Kate Plus Reality Check

I am not a big TV watcher. Actually, that is funny to state, because when I was younger I was a television junkie. Plus, I have a Bachelors degree in Television (Media) Production. So there is alot of experience flowing through this article.

Jon & Kate plus8

One thing that really bothers me (among others) in today’s television is the genre of reality TV.  Not primarily because a lot of it isn’t real or is manipulated, nor is it because the topics are becoming more shallow and brain-dead as each season passes. Nope, it is the people who sign up to participate in such programing. Jon and Kate Gosselin are one perfect example.

By now you have some idea of the  TLC’s well publisized show ‘Jon & Kate + 8′? Pretty much it was a family of then people — two parents and eight kids– and their extraordinary life. The headline news, for that past half a year, is that the parents are going through a terrible divorce (because of the show) as the world watches.

Not too weird for America, right? But what rips me apart is that this didn’t have to happen. Just like Jerry Springer, you don’t have to be on the show. Nonetheless, their choices have created chaos in the lives of 8 innocent kids.

Going back to reality TV, what bothers me the most is that becuase of the ambition of reality participants to quench the want of the media public, they would go so far as to play with relationships, sleep around, relentlesly compete, or lose their family… What is usually the gain? Money, short term fame, a random tabloid? What is the loss? Too much to name.

Jon and Kate have lost each other, unstabilized their family, polarized a country, and soon will dissolve a show, for what?

Jeremiah  states that, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9 NIV). Good question Jeremiah, good question.

-Matt

Can the Bible help your budget?

With financial security on everyone’s mind, I have decided to talk about biblical financial principles. The Lord knows the stresses of money and how it can cause one to loose faith in Him, so it is timely that the video that I am about to show you came about. Please click on the link to watch the video: “Can the Bible help your budget?”

This will be the first entry in this thread, enjoy!

-The Author